Aust worried about China policing talks

AUSTRALIA is the “security partner of choice” for neighbouring Papua New Guinea (PNG), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said yesterday, after the biggest Pacific Island nation said China was seeking a policing and security deal.
Major trade partner China approached PNG in September with an offer to help its police force with training, equipment and surveillance technology, PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko said.
Talks were at an early stage, but PNG would not jeopardise its security ties with Australia and the United States (US), he said.
PNG struck a A$200 million (about K495 million) security agreement with Australia in December to boost police training, after forging a defence agreement with the US in May, although both deals were yet to be implemented.
“We are the security partner of choice for PNG, as we are for most of the countries in the Pacific,” Albanese told Reuters.
China’s ambassador to Australia said this month Beijing had a strategy to help Pacific Island nations with policing, not defence, and its growing presence in the region should not alarm Australia.
Tkachenko said in a statement that China’s offer of policing and internal security assistance was “being carefully assessed, as we do not want to duplicate or compromise agreements already in place with our traditional security partners, Australia and the US”.
In an effort to counter China’s push to increase security ties in countries where Australia has long provided policing support, Australia pledged A$35 million (about K86 million) for policing assistance in East Timor on Monday.
Former prime minister Peter O’Neill said PNG did not need secret security arrangements with the US or China.
“I am deeply concerned to read Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Affairs Minister actively discussing our country’s internal, domestic police and security arrangements with China,” he said. “China is our largest trading partner and an important international friend to our country. We all admire how Chinese people have advanced their country.
“Before and since Independence, PNG has rightfully stuck to Australia when it comes to providing for security for our country and the Pacific region.”
“There is no reason why the current Government, on shaky ground themselves, should be choosing to sign a secret security deal with China late last year and now, enter into practical discussions about policing and other security arrangements.